Schaub Comeback Falls Short In 8th Straight Loss For Texans

Houston (CBS Houston) – The Houston Texans tried everything they could to end a franchise record seven game losing streak, including replacing their starting quarterback with their former starting quarterback, but it wasn’t enough as a late chance fell short in a 28-23 loss to the visiting Oakland Raiders.

Case Keenum and fellow undrafted quarterback Matt McGloin battled for the first three and a half quarters until Keenum was pulled for former Texans starting quarterback Matt Schaub. With the Raiders leading 28-17 late in the third quarter the Texans pulled their young QB and replaced him with their veteran Schaub, who Keenum replaced when Schaub was injured.

The decision was not met with a warm reception by the fans at Reliant Stadium who booed the entering team captain.

Schaub was able to get a staggering Texans offense into the red zone three times in the fourth quarter, but the team only came away with two field goals and a turn over on downs. Schaub finished 12/25 for 155 yards.

The turn over on downs came with just 1:10 remaining on the clock and the Texans trailing by five. On 4th down and seven from the Raiders 7-yard line Schaub’s pass was knocked down in the end zone, intended for Andre Johnson. After the play Johnson and Schaub were seen exchanging heated words on the sideline as Johnson left the field before the game clock expired. Schaub then ran off the field before going to shake hands with any of the Raiders players.

“Just emotions. Emotions of the game,” Schaub said of the heated words between him and the Texans star receiver. “stuff we’ll keep between us. He’s a great guy and a great competitor, as am I and you know, just the heat of the moment. That’s behind us.”

The Raiders forced a fumble from Garrett Graham on the Texans first drive and turned that into McGloin’s first career touchdown pass to Demarius Moore for a 7-0 lead.

The Raiders then got another first, this time Keenum’s first interception, which gave Oakland the ball inside the Texans 20 yard line. McGloin connected on his first pass to Rob Streater for his second career TD and a Raiders 14-0 lead.

Keenum then began the Texans comeback. On a scramble to his right side Keenum stopped just short of running out of bounds and found Graham for a 42 yard touchdown to cut the Raiders lead in half 14-7.

The Texans then tied the game on an 87-yard punt return from Keeshawn Martin that bounced off his facemask, before he picked it up and out ran Raider Nation for the touchdown to tie the game 14-14.

With 2:26 left in the half the Texans were able to drive the ball into field goal territory and get their first lead of the game 17-14 on a Randy bullock 51 yard try.

That would be all the success Keenum would have in the game, finishing 13/24 for 170 yards, one touchdown and one interception. In the second half the Texans would go three and out on their first three possessions and Schaub would step in.

In between those three failed drives by Keenum the Raiders got a 26-yard touchdown pass from McGloin to rookie TE Rivera and an 80-yard run by Rashard Jennings to give the Raiders a 28-17 lead that would be enough for the teams fourth win of the season.

Schaub got the Texans close, but twice in the red zone through passes towards Johnson that were almost intercepted in the end-zone.

Johnson did have 10 catches and 116 yards on the game, but failed to get into the end zone for the first time in three games. Johnson has five touchdown catches on the season, all coming on passes from Keenum.

Ben Tate was able to run for 88 yards on 19 carries for the Texans, but couldn’t get a first down on 3rd and 1 at the end of the game.